Author: Montage Africa

At least 13 people were killed and dozens others wounded by a series of powerful explosions at an ammunitions depot in Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura, the army has said. It said in its latest update that 57 people, including three soldiers, were wounded. Houses and private vehicles were damaged, while military equipment and facilities were destroyed by the blasts, it added. The explosions erupted late on Tuesday at the facility, located in the suburb of Musaga, and were caused by an electrical fault, an army spokesperson had said earlier. Shrapnel and debris were propelled more than 5km (three miles). Earlier,…

By Rédaction Africanews and AP In Kenya, Greenland Girls School in Kajiado County is breaking new ground by providing education to teenage mothers, many of whom bring their children with them to the boarding school. Classrooms and dormitories accommodate both students and their babies, creating a rare environment where education and motherhood go hand in hand. For many young women rejected by their families or communities, the school offers a vital second chance. A 2015 study by the Population Council found that two-thirds of teenage mothers drop out of school due to pregnancy, and authorities stress the importance of allowing…

Lamine Yamal said the racist chants during Spain’s 0-0 draw with Egypt in Barcelona on Tuesday were “disrespectful and intolerable”. Police in Spain are investigating “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants heard during the first half of the friendly at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. At half-time a message warning fans against xenophobic remarks and singing was displayed on the screen at the stadium – the message was repeated early in the second half, leading to whistles from some sections of the crowd. “I know it [the chant] was directed at the opposing team and wasn’t personal against me, but as a Muslim,…

By Rédaction Africanews and Chris Ocamringa with Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched its first national census in over 40 years, a move UN officials say could reshape development planning across the vast central African nation. The last census was held in 1984, leaving authorities without reliable population data for decades. “This is a historic moment,” said UNFPA representative Diene Keita in an exclusive interview with Africanews. “For the head of state to commit $30 million directly into the census fund, managed by UNFPA, is extraordinary. It’s a bold act of sovereignty and a clear signal…

By Sarah Miansoni Vigário Luís Balanta, a Guinea-Bissau civil society activist and a critic of the country’s military junta, was found dead on Tuesday. Balanta’s body was found in the Ndam area, about 30 kilometres from the capital Bissau, according to local media. Reports from media and fellow activists say the 35-year-old advocate was violently attacked and beaten to death. The Civil Society Social Pact, a civil society organisation, paid tribute to an “inspiring figure for the youth of Guinea-Bissau, who advocated for building a dignified future in the country, rather than resorting to emigration,” according to remarks reported by…

The United States is stepping up its push for deeper energy and infrastructure partnerships in the Caribbean, with a focus on Suriname’s emerging oil and gas sector and the region’s long-term energy security, according to Paul Watzlavick, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo. “It’s increasingly clear that this region is an essential partner to the U.S.,” Watzlavick said. “We want partnerships that support a strong workforce, keep our people safe and respect the sovereignty of every country.” He stressed that energy security in the Caribbean goes beyond production, highlighting the need for modern infrastructure, updated technologies…

More than 1,800 civilians have been killed in Burkina Faso since Ibrahim Traoré seized power three years ago in acts amounting to “war crimes and crimes against humanity”, a new report says. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says about 1,837 civilians, including dozens of children, were killed in 57 incidents between January 2023 and August 2025. It attributes most of the killings – 1,255 – to the military and allied militias, with the rest blamed on Islamist militants. HRW finds President Traoré and six senior military commanders “may be liable as a matter of command responsibility for grave abuses and should…

The belief in progress and shaping the future through innovation and ambition remains central to the legacy of Madame Clicquot – a philosophy that continues to define the spirit of Veuve Clicquot today. In 1972, the Maison established the Bold Woman Award in her honour, celebrating the 27-year-old widow who, in 1805, defied convention to lead her husband’s champagne business and build an international empire from Reims at a time when women were excluded from formal commercial life. Now spanning 27 countries and uniting nearly 500 laureates, the award reflects her enduring belief in innovation, expansion and fearless ambition. Today,…

By Africanews with AP A 75-year-old woman running for mayor of South Africa’s biggest city went snorkeling in a large, water-filled trench in a suburban road in a stunt to draw attention to what she describes as years of mismanagement by the city’s authorities. Helen Zille, a well-known South African politician, wore a wetsuit, a mask and snorkel, and a pink-and-white swimming cap as she doggy-paddled through the pool of muddy brown water in an upscale Johannesburg suburb. The pool has been there for about three years because a burst water pipe hadn’t been properly fixed despite repeated attempts, she…

By Rédaction Africanews with AP A group of toddlers evacuated as premature infants just a month into the Israel-Hamas war returned Monday to families overjoyed yet worried about their futures in a transformed Gaza. Families gathered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to receive the children, hoisting them into embraces as celebratory crowds watched. Some said early on they did not know whether their newborns had survived and others said it felt like they were meeting their children for the first time. The infants were early symbols of the collateral damage facing civilians in Gaza after Israel launched an offensive…